Collapsible carton



March 20, 1951 R. A. SAMSING COLLAPSIBLE CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1947 Rolf A. Samsing INVENTOR.

.5 BY QM and Marchizo, 1951 R. A. SAMSING 2,545,589

COLLAPSIBLE CARTON Filed Dec. 12, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Rolf A. Samsing INVENTOR.

BY Wis QM, WWI-W Patented Mar. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,545,589 co'tmrsmtc macros Rolf A, Samsing, porch-ester, Mass.

Application December 12, I947, Serial No. 791,236

4 Claims. (01. 2'29=-28) The present invention relates to new and use ful improvements in collapsible cartons and more particularly to a tray-like carton constructed to provide individual compartments whereby fruit and other articles may be shipped therein without the danger of damage thereto.

An important object of the invention is to provide a carton of one piece construction in which all 'of the parts thereof, including the partition or separators are made from a single blank stock and machine cut to provide a tray having a double row of compartments or pockets in which the fruit or other articles may be individually carried and a self locking longitudinal separator between the rows of compartments to hold the carton in its open position.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construc= tion, which is neat and attractive in appearance, efiicient and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture andotherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the carton scored blank foldable to provide the complete self-locking carton.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carton in open position.

Figure 3 is a perspective viewof the carton in partially open position. 7 V

Figure 4 is a similar view of the carton in open position and prior to the locking of the center separator, and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention the blank of card board or other suitable material from which the carton is constructed is shown at 5 and is of substantially rectangular shape and includes a central portion 6 and wing portions 1 and 8 at each side thereof.

The central portion 6 is provided with a medial score line 9 extending transversely of the blank 5 and also provided with cuts or slits It] in alined longitudinally spaced relation with respect to each other and in offset parallel relation with respect to the score line 9, the split In providing reinforcing tabs H for a purpose more fully hereill inafter described. One edge of the central portion 6 projects outwardly beyond the adjacent edgeof the blank 5 and the opposite edge of the central portion 6 is notched to terminate inwardly of its adjacent edge of the blank 5.

The central portion 6 is provided at each side of its medial line 9 with space parallel diagonal slits or cuts l2 and score lines |3 at the ends of the slits extending at an acute angle with respect thereto and longitudinally with respect to the blank 5. The score lines l3 are also disposed at right angles to the medial line s for the central portion 6 of the blank is clearly shown in Figure lof the drawings.

The slits l2 are arranged in pairs in parallel relation with respect to each other with the score lines l3 at each end of each pair of slits, to provide partitions M at each side of the medial line 9 and with one of the slits |2 at one edge of the partitions continuing to provide one of the slits for an adjacent partition.

An inner score line I5 is provided in each of the end or winged portions 1 and 8 of the blank immediately adjacent the partitions I4 and parallel to the medial line 9, and an intermediate score line 15 extends parallel to the inner score line |-5 in each wing or end portion of the blank, and an outer score line H extends parallel to the score lines -|5 and IS in each wing or end portion.

The outer edges of the wing or end portions 1 and 8 are cut to provide a pair of elongated locking tabs |-8 each having an extension at one end to provide a locking hook I9.

The central section 6 of the blank is folded downwardly along the score line e to provide a central, inverted, channel-shaped longitudinal separator 20 and the edges of the end or wing sections 1 and 8 are folded inwardly under the central section t and upwardly with the tabs 58 in confronting relation to each other and are cemented, stapled, or otherwise suitably secured together to form a longitudinal locking separator 2| slidable in the separator 20. To facilitate storing and shipping of the carton in a folded position, the same is folded on the intermediate score lines I6 so that the partitions M at each side of the medial line 9 lie flatly at opposite sides of the central separators 2|! and 2 When it is desired to open the carton, the protruding end of the separator 29 is pressed inwardly longitudinally of the separator 2| while the opposit end of the separator 2| is held stationary and the opposite pressure longitudinally on the separators will cause the partitions Hi to spread outwardly at their fold lines I3 into a,

position transversely of the central separators 20 and 2| and force the adjacent portions of the end or wing sections 1 and 8 outwardly for folding along their score lines into the position shown in Figure 4 to form the sides of the carton.

The folding of the central section 6 along the medial line 9 forms elongated openings 22 at the slits with the tabs ll projecting upwardly at one side of the openings, and the locking tabs I8 are then inserted upwardly in the openings, and locked by the extensions I9. The tabs H reinforce the locking tabs I8 to prevent bending thereof.

The partitions I4 thus define a row of compartments 23 at each side of carton separated by the central separators 20 and 2| and Within which fruit or other fragile or easily damaged articles may be safely shipped or carried.

Inserting the locking tabs I8 upwardly in the openings 22 serves to fold the wings I, 8 upwardly along th score lines l5, I6, I? to form the bottom of the carton in V-shaped in cross section at opposite sides of the separator 20 with the partitions l4 raised above said bottom for circulation of air under said partitions at both sides of the separator 26, and sliding the separators 20, 21, as described, serves to arrange said partitions M in planes perpendicular to said bottom.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A collapsible carton comprising a one-piece blank cut, scored and folded to provide a tray having an upstanding longitudinal partition, an inverted channel shaped slide telescoped over the partition, transverse partitions foldably connected at their ends to the sides of the slide and to the side walls of the tray to form a double row of compartments in the tray, said transverse partitions being foldable against the opposite sides of the slide upon a movement of the slide in one direction and said transverse partitions spreading the sides of the tray and bracing the same upon an opposite movement of the slide, and

4 means locking the slide to hold the tray in open position.

2. A collapsible carton comprising a one-piece blank cut, scored and folded to provide a tray having an upstanding longitudinal partition, an inverted channel shaped slide telescoped over the partition, transverse partitions foldably connected at their ends to the sides of the slide and to the side walls of the tray to form a double row of compartments in the tray, said transverse partitions being foldable against the opposite sides of the slide upon a movement of the slide in one direction and said transverse partitions spreading the sides of the tray and bracing the same upon an opposite movement of the slide, and means locking the slide' to hold the tray in open position, said means comprising interlocking tongues and slots between the slide and the longitudinal partition.

3. A carton comprising an elongated tray formed of a sheet of folded material and embodying a longitudinal central divider of inverted channel shape, said tray having sides, and wings folded on said sides and toward said divider and additionally folded to form a bottom for the tray of V-shape in cross section at opposite sides of the divider, said wings terminating in folded edges inserted upwardly side by side in said divider to maintain said wings folded.

4. A carton comprising an elongated tray formed of a sheet of folded material and embodying a longitudinal central divider of inverted channel shape, said tray having sides, and wings folded on said sides and toward said divider and additional folded to form a bottom for the tray of V-shape in cross section at opposite side of the divider, said wings terminating in folded edges inserted upwardly side by side in said divider to maintain said wings folded, said tray further embodying partition members therein extending from said divider to said sides in planes perpendicular to said bottom.

ROLF A. SAMSING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,134,627 Turner Oct. 25, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 517,523 Great Britain Feb. 1, 1940 

